The Children's Court Clinic in
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, part of the
Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, is a
medico-legal clinic established pursuant to Section 15B of the and the ''
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
{{Use dmy dates, date=May 2018
The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 is a law in New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of A ...
'' (NSW) which prepares independent reports on children for legal proceedings before the
Children's Court of New South Wales
The Children's Court of New South Wales is a court within the Australian court hierarchy established in 1905. The current iteration was established on 18 January 1988 pursuant to the which deals with criminal law, criminal offences committed b ...
.
Constitution
The clinic is established under the and its function is further specified according to sections 52-59 of the ''
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
{{Use dmy dates, date=May 2018
The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 is a law in New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of A ...
'' (NSW). As of 1 July 2011 the
Minister for Health
A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare spending and other social security services.
Some governments have separate ministers for mental heal ...
was required to establish the clinic in accordance with the
Children's Court Rule 2000 (NSW).
An assessment report by the clinic is taken to be an independent report to the Court rather than evidence tendered by a party (section 59, the Care and Protection Act). The Children’s Court Clinic authorised clinician who prepares a report is nevertheless available to the court for cross-examination. Under the Court's rules, the clinic is composed of the Director of the Children’s Court Clinic and any other persons appointed by the
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...
. Those other persons are persons considered by the Attorney General to be suitable to prepare and submit assessment reports for the court. This is in the process of changing as the clinic is gradually transferred to the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network.
The clinic currently employs a team of senior psychologists based in Parramatta and Broadmeadow NSW to do its work. It also has a list of authorised clinicians who perform work on a contractual basis. They are experienced clinicians in psychiatry, psychology or social work.
Jurisdiction
The clinic is required to make
clinical assessments of children and families in care matters and report to the Children's Court on those assessments. The report is given to the court ordering the assessment, which then determines whether to release it to the parties in the case.
Location
The clinic has two locations in New South Wales; in
Parramatta
Parramatta (; ) is a suburb (Australia), suburb and major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is co ...
, Sydney and in , .
See also
*
Children's Court of New South Wales
The Children's Court of New South Wales is a court within the Australian court hierarchy established in 1905. The current iteration was established on 18 January 1988 pursuant to the which deals with criminal law, criminal offences committed b ...
*
List of New South Wales courts and tribunals
The following is a list of courts and tribunals in New South Wales:
List of sitting boards, commissions, courts, and tribunals
Sitting courts
The primary courts currently sitting in New South Wales are:
*Court of Appeal of New South Wales
*N ...
References
External links
*
*Children's Court Rule 2000 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/ccr692000203/
* {{URL, http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/health-professionals/departments-clinics-and-units/childrens-court-clinic, www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au Homepage of the Clinic
Parramatta clinic's at Google mapsBroadmeadow clinic's at Google maps
New South Wales courts and tribunals
Australia, New South Wales